The Chinese government has set Wednesday as the trial date for Liu Xiaobo, a dissident who has been in detention for more than a year for his role in writing Charter 08, a manifesto calling for political reform, human rights and an end to one-party rule.

Chinese court officials telephoned Liu's attorneys on Sunday and on Monday delivered formal notice of the date of the trial, in which the government will accuse Liu of "inciting subversion of state power," a charge punishable by up to 15 years in prison.